Birthday, Mongol Style

By Charlie

I caught a taxi outside the Mongolian National Broadcasting building and headed down the hill to town.

Along the way, the taxi driver tested my Mongolian, as many taxi drivers do. When he found out that today is my birthday, he said “Bayar horgii!” Congratulations!

He stopped two blocks short of my destination and he told me to wait. I reached for my wallet, ready to pay the fare and walk the rest of the way. He insisted that I should wait.

Typical, I thought. This guy is buying cigarettes and I’m waiting for him.

When he came running across the street from the kiosk, he was carrying a chocolate bar. All I understood him say was “Torson odor.” Birthday.